Summary Background Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported but risk factors for mortality and a detailed clinical course of illness, including viral shedding, have not been well described. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included all adult inpatients (≥18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or had died by Jan 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Findings 191 patients (135 from Jinyintan Hospital and 56 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. 91 (48%) patients had a comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (58 [30%] patients), followed by diabetes (36 [19%] patients) and coronary heart disease (15 [8%] patients). Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with older age (odds ratio 1·10, 95% CI 1·03–1·17, per year increase; p=0·0043), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (5·65, 2·61–12·23; p Interpretation The potential risk factors of older age, high SOFA score, and d-dimer greater than 1 μg/mL could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future. Funding Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences; National Science Grant for Distinguished Young Scholars; National Key Research and Development Program of China; The Beijing Science and Technology Project; and Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development.

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Heavy metals in soils

The occurrence and geochemistry of fluoride in some natural waters of Kenya

Millions of people are potentially exposed to volcanic gases worldwide, and exposures may differ from those in anthropogenic air pollution. A systematic literature review found few primary studies relating to health hazards of volcanic gases. SO2 and acid aerosols from eruptions and degassing events were associated with respiratory morbidity and mortality but not childhood asthma prevalence or lung function decrements. Accumulations of H2S and CO2 from volcanic and geothermal sources have caused fatalities from asphyxiation. Chronic exposure to H2S in geothermal areas was associated with increases in nervous system and respiratory diseases. Some impacts were on a large scale, affecting several countries (e.g., Laki fissure eruption in Iceland in 1783-4). No studies on health effects of volcanic releases of halogen gases or metal vapors were located. More high quality collaborative studies involving volcanologists and epidemiologists are recommended.

Health Hazards from Volcanic Gases: A Systematic Literature Review

The geographic distribution of fluoride in surface and groundwater in Ethiopia with an emphasis on the Rift Valley.

New palladium (Pd)II and platinum (Pt)II complexes (C1-C5) from the Schiff base ligands, R-(phenyl)methanamine (L1), R-(pyridin-2-yl)methanamine (L2), and R-(furan-2-yl)methanamine (L3) (R-(E)-N-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl) methylene)) are herein reported The complexes (C1-C5) were characterized by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV-vis, and microanalyses Single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis was performed for the two ligands (L1-L2) and a Pt complex Both L1 and L2 belong to P21/n monoclinic and P-1 triclinic space systems, respectively The complex C5 belongs to the P21/c monoclinic space group The investigated molar conductivity of the complexes in DMSO gave the range 40-88 μS/cm, suggesting neutrality, with log P values ≥ 12692 ± 0004, suggesting lipophilicity The anticancer activity and mechanism of the complexes were investigated against various human cancerous (Caco-2, HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7, and PC-3) and noncancerous (MCF-12A) cell lines using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Apopercentage assays, respectively C5 demonstrated strong DNA-binding affinity for calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) with a binding constant of 8049 × 104 M-1 C3 reduced cell viability of all the six cell lines, which included five cancerous cell lines, by more than 80% The C5 complex also demonstrated remarkably high selectivity with no cytotoxic activity toward the noncancerous breast cell line but reduced the viability of the five cancerous cell lines, which included one breast cancer cell line, by more than 60% Further studies are required to evaluate the selective toxicity of these two complexes and to fully understand their mechanism of action

New Palladium II and Platinum II Complexes Based on Pyrrole Schiff Bases- Synthesis, Characterization, X‑ray Structure, and Anticancer Activity

During a project to determine the fluoride levels of milk in Lake Elementaita region, the authors were astonished by the high levels of fluorosis in children living in the area. With special reference to children, a study was designed to establish and describe the levels of dental fluorosis and also to determine other sources of fluoride to the community. The levels of dental fluorosis were recorded using Thylstrup and Fejerskov classification method (TF) for children aged between 2-14 years. Biodata information, feeding habits and details of fluoride history were collected using a questionnaire form filled out with the help of teachers and/or parents. Results pertain to both continuous and non-continuous residents for both primary and permanent dentition. The high fluorosis level of 95.8% was associated with the fluoride concentration in the community water supply and food. Food samples analysed for fluoride include cows milk (the major source of nutrients for the children in the area), vegetables and water. Fluoride levels in drinking water from different boreholes were high, varying from 2.0-20.9 pg/mL-1. Milk fluoride levels in samples from seven localities ranged from 0.05-0.22 pg/mL-1 (mean) and an individual animal range of 0.02-0.34 pg/g-1 . Vegetables had fluoride levels between 7.9-59.3 pg/g1 with an exception of one with 296.6 pg/g-1 . The soils in which the vegetables are grown had over 1000 ppm. This being a landscape formed by the process of faulting and volcanic activity, the dust from Lake Elementaita also had high fluoride concentration of 2300 pg/g-1.

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Fluorosis in children and sources of fluoride around lake elementaita region of kenya

A density-functional theory (DFT) study of five ruthenium complexes has been carried out with the goal of gaining deeper insight into factors governing luminescence lifetimes. The five compounds are [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ ( 1 ), [Ru(L1) 2 ] 2+ ( 2 ), [Ru(tpy) 2 ] 2+ ( 3 ), [Ru(L1)(tpy)] 2+ ( 4 ), and [Ru(L2) 2 ] 2+ ( 5 ), where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, tpy = 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine, L1 = 1,1′-[2,6-pyridinediylbis(methylene)]bis[3-methylimidazolium] hexafluorophosphate and L2 = 1,1′-[2,6-pyridinediylbis(methylene)]bis[3-methylbenziimidazolium]. Experimental work, including the synthesis and photophysical properties of 5 is also reported in the context of this study. Gas phase geometries optimized using X-ray crystallography geometries as start geometries were found to be close to the start geometries. Gas phase absorption spectra calculated using time-dependent DFT were found to be in good agreement with spectra measured in solution. A partial density of states (PDOS) analysis of the molecular orbitals shows that it is possible to recover a ligand field theory (LFT)-like picture. On the basis of this PDOS-derived LFT-like picture we propose two orbital-based luminescence indices, both motivated by the idea that luminescence quenching results from a low 3 MLCT →  3 MC barrier. The first luminescence index is Δ E , the difference between the e g * and lowest energy π * PDOS bands. The second luminescence index is d  ×  π , the product of the amount of π character in the t 2 g band with the amount of ruthenium d character in the 1 π * band. These luminescence measures are intended as qualitative rather than quantitative predictors. Low values of Δ E and high values of d  ×  π are shown to correlate with lack of luminescence for the five compounds studied in this paper, while high values of Δ E and low values of d  ×  π correlate well with luminescence.

Density-functional study of luminescence in polypyridine ruthenium complexes

Determination of total fluorine in vegetables and plants by open-flame ashing and microdiffusion. Comparison with furnace ashing and oxygen-flask combustion

Analysis of water-labile fluoride in fresh vegetable juices from markets in Kenya was conducted by direct analysis with a fluoride ion selective electrode. Among 20 different vegetable juices, the fluoride content ranged from 1.2 mg F/L to 5.4 mg F/L. Some of the juices contained higher fluoride levels than the limits recommended by the World Health Organization for drinking water. Consumption of vegetable juices for healing therapy has become popular, and it is therefore important to consider the fluoride intake from this source. Calculation of the amount of fluoride that may be ingested from the juices based on the recommended formulations shows that the juices make a significant contribution to daily fluoride intake.

Lydia W. Njenga

Papers

New Palladium II and Platinum II Complexes Based on Pyrrole Schiff Bases- Synthesis, Characterization, X‑ray Structure, and Anticancer Activity

Fluorosis in children and sources of fluoride around lake elementaita region of kenya

Density-functional study of luminescence in polypyridine ruthenium complexes

Determination of total fluorine in vegetables and plants by open-flame ashing and microdiffusion. Comparison with furnace ashing and oxygen-flask combustion

Water-labile fluoride in fresh raw vegetable juices from markets in Nairobi, Kenya